NEW BEGINNINGS: Coach Jason Kidd (left) will miss the season-opener in Cleveland Wednesday, but Kevin Garnett will take the floor as a Net for the first time in a regular-season game. Photo: Anthony Causi

CLEVELAND — The curtain will rise on the most expensive show in NBA history far away from the bright lights and big stage of Brooklyn and Barclays Center.

Instead, the Nets’ chase for a championship will begin against the Cavaliers inside Quicken Loans Arena, where the basketball world will get the first glimpse at what these new-look Nets are capable of.

“We’re really excited about this season,” Deron Williams said. “Everybody’s excited to get this thing going.

“We feel like we have a chance to compete with anyone … it’s going to be an enjoyable year, a fun ride.”

It’s a ride the Nets and their fans have been waiting to begin ever since general manager Billy King pulled off the blockbuster move of the offseason on draft night in June — landing Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Jason Terry from the Celtics.

That move, plus the addition of multi-talented forward Andrei Kirilenko and retaining Andray Blatche, has lifted the Nets into the conversation with the two-time defending champion Heat, Bulls and Pacers for the title of top team in the Eastern Conference — as well as, to many, a legitimate title contender.

Such talk is to be expected after King’s maneuvering to acquire all of that talent this summer resulted in owner Mikhail Prokhorov being committed to paying roughly $189 million dollars in payroll and luxury-tax payments this season.

Now, after a month of preparation, everyone will see how it’s all going to work.

“The marathon officially starts [Wednesday],” coach Jason Kidd said. “We’ve had a pretty good training camp … and I think the guys are excited about the start of [the season].”

Although Kidd will be serving the first game of his two-game suspension for pleading guilty to driving while ability impaired, and Kirilenko is expected to sit out because of back spasms, Wednesday will mark the first time the Nets’ star-studded starting five will take the floor together. For as much as the outside world is curious to see how all of these high-profile and expensive pieces will fit together, so are the Nets.

“It doesn’t mean we don’t practice together,” Garnett said of the lack of game action together for the starting five. “Just because we’re not in some of these preseason games doesn’t mean we aren’t getting the continuity of plays being run in practice.

“But to put it all together and see what it looks like on a consistent basis, everyone is excited about that.”

It is possible no one is more excited for a new beginning than Williams, who has gone through an up-and-down two-plus seasons as a Net since being acquired from the Jazz in February 2011 in the first blockbuster trade of King’s tenure as general manager.

After two injury-filled seasons, as well as playing around a depleted supporting cast in his first full season and through a coaching change last year, Williams has been given the keys to a team built for him to be the catalyst for what the Nets hope is a deep playoff run.

“You take things for granted,” Williams said when asked if he has a better appreciation of the situation hem is in now. “You take players for granted that you played with. You start nit-picking at what people can’t do, instead of what they can do, so you definitely take that for granted.

“I think a lot of guys have to go through that to really understand. I’ve never really been one of those guys that needed to be the man, or wanted to be the man … so I’m excited for this group right now.”

After months of buildup, the most anticipated season in Nets franchise history is about to begin. It’s showtime.

Why aren't Knick fans wodering why Dolan refuses to break the cap? Thats how you buid Dynasties, Think Lakers, Boston, and now the Nets. WTF Dolan, not enough money? Charge a little more for that POS Cable TV service and go get a real 2nd superstar to play with melo. I love JR, but he isnt gonna be Melo's Scottie Pippen. He is a 4th or 5th piece that you pay less than landry Feilds gets paid by Toronto... Chandler? Worthless, 6 points a game, garbage. Cuban was happy to see him go. Amare: head case and too fragile. World Peace, follwing a long tradition in nyc of bringing in Marquee players who are wayyyyy past their prime, see Kiki Vandeweigh, doc rivers, penny hardaway,marvin webster, i can keep going if you want.. Sick of it. KNICKS SUCK!